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The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. For over three generations, the Academy has connected millions of people to great poetry through programs such as National Poetry Month, the largest literary celebration in the world; Poets.org, the Academy’s popular website; American Poets, a biannual literary journal; and an annual series of poetry readings and special events. Since its founding, the Academy has awarded more money to poets than any other organization.

Miguel Algarín

Miguel Algarín was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, on September 11, 1941. When he was nine years old, he moved with his family to New York City. He received a BA from the University of Wisconsin in 1963 and an MA in English literature from Pennsylvania State University in 1965.

Algarin published his first poetry collection, Realidades, in 1970. He is also the author of Survival Superviviencia (Arte Publico Press, 2009); Time’s Now/Ya es tiempo (Arte Publico Press, 1985), which received the 1986 American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation; Body Bee Calling from the 21st Century (Arte Publico Press, 1982); On Call (Arte Publico Press, 1980), which received the 1981 American Book Award; and Mongo Affair (The East Village Press/Nuyorican Press, 1978). In the introduction to Survival Superviviencia, Ernesto Quiñonez writes, “Miguel Algarín dives down into an urban underclass, he gets inside their skin, burrowing his feelings and when he comes up for air, he stuns us with empathy.”

In 1973, Algarin cofounded the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, a multicultural venue championing art and performance by underprivileged artists. A leading figure of the Nuyorican movement of the 1970s, he is also the coeditor of Action: The Nuyorican Poets Cafe Theater Festival (Simon & Schuster, 1997), Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (Henry Holt, 1994), and Nuyorican Poetry: An Anthology of Puerto Rican Words and Feelings (William Morrow, 1975). He is also the translator of Pablo Neruda’s Song of Protest (William Morrow, 1985)

In 2009, Algarín became the first Latino to win the Before Columbus Lifetime Achievement American Book Award. He taught at Rutgers University for over thirty years.